ASSESSMENT OF REFUGE GENERATION AND DISPOSAL PRACTICES AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The study examined the storage, disposal and health effects of refuse in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. The specific objectives were to; assess the types of Refuse generated; examine the methods of storing refuse; and find out the health effects of improper refuse disposal based on gender. Cross sectional descriptive survey research design was used. The population of the study comprises of all 1, 574 workers in the airport. The sample size of this study is 383 determined using of Cohen, Manion and Morrison (2011). Simple random sampling by balloting was used to select the respondents. Questionnaire was used to collect data which validated by three (3) experts and the Cronbach alpha was 0.78. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used and analyzed the collected data. For descriptive statistics, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used. For inferential statistics, chi – square was used and set the significant level at (5%) (p ≤ 0.05). All the results were presented in tables and calculated with aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The finding indicates that more than half (68.9%) of the respondents are generating accumulated rags waste, (64.3%) generating Nylon and polythene bags waste, and (57.5%) generating waste papers while (44.1%) are generating food waste and fruits peel. Finding also shows that garbage bags (mean = 3.10), polythene bags (mean = 3.03) and, drums (mean = 2.74) were the methods of refuse storage recorded the higher mean value greater than the criterion mean (2.50) which concluded as agreed. Finally, it also revealed that Female (89.2%) are more than male (81.2%) agreed toxic is one of the health effects; also (91.4%) highly agreed then male (71.3%) for contamination of land, air and water, but for creation of unsanitary conditions effect, female (88.7%) highly agreed than male (71.8%); in environmental pollution; female (86.0%) agreed than male (70.7%); female (81.7%) highly agreed than male (69.1%) that outbreaks of vector-borne disease is one of the health effects of improper refuse disposal. It was recommended that; Health campaign on better waste disposal methods and educating the both passengers and staff of the airport in order to appreciate the health problems associated with indiscriminate waste disposal and the enforcement of sanitation laws by the appropriate authorities.